Cactus Village Community

HOME INVASION

Jul 07, 2003

It?’s something that happens in other neighborhoods--but now it?’s getting a little closer to home. United Neighbors Association, North Glen Square?’s association neighbors to the west, reported the first home invasion within their area. The incident reportedly occurred about 1 1:00 P.M. on April 4 when the invader entered all elderly gentleman?’s house near 39th Avenue, beat him about the face and neck, and then robbed him. The victim is a long-time resident who had suffered a broken leg and hip in a recent accident and must have been easy prey. According to neighbors, tile homeowner had apparently lefI his garage door open and tile door between the garage and house unlocked, as he was expecting a visitor to drop by. The suspect is described as an Hispanic male. 5?’10?” in height, weighing about 200 pounds, with a bald or a shaved head.

Our former Community Action Officer, Icela Brown. told us at a meeting last year that in most home invasions, the assailants are known to their victims; however, this seems to be an instance of opportunity made possible by easy access--an open garage door and an unlocked door to a house. The lesson for us here is to keep our doors and windows locked at all times, when we?’re at home or not, and to keep our garage doors closed and locked as well. The better the barrier, the safer we are, so let?’s not make it easier for criminals to act.